so-and-so ,’” says Nogueira . “ Sometimes , I have to go to the internet to know if it is from our region , or São Paulo , or Minas Gerais .”
It ’ s hands-on work and for the longtime local , it ’ s also a passion . Nogueira is known by locals as a father of the forest and is determined to share his holistic vision of what could be achieved here . “ I have to pass on this knowledge , this teaching ,” he asserts . “ When I am no longer on the land , I am sure that my son will say , ‘ This was my father who did it ,’ and the people will say , ‘ Ah , the late Mauricio , he reforested all this , he passed it all on .’” Therein lies the possibility of a lasting legacy , says Nogueira . “ That ’ s what I ’ m here for — for children , for your future . I ’ m leaving it to you .”
Mariana Muniz de Oliveira is a nursery staff member who joined Nogueira ’ s team in 2021 . At just 24 years old , she shares his deep love for the landscape . Working with REGUA is a dream come true , and HP ’ s investment with WWF enabled the organization to expand its staff to include her position . “ Planting a tree has a magical , incredible importance ,” she says . Sometimes she wants to cry when she sees plants collected as seedlings growing bigger than she is , Oliveira says .
A responsible concept of reforestation Though one hectare of the Atlantic Forest can store between 223 and 460 metric tons of carbon , the motivation that drives Nogueira ’ s team goes beyond the climate benefits of restoration . In addition to the practical know-how , there is a connection with the land entwined with personal and universal legacies and the health and well-being of people .
This combination of ecosystem knowledge and enthusiasm is vital . But it is not the full story . Returning over-tilled land back to healthy forest is a complex undertaking . The successful transformation of Cachoeiras de Macacu is the result of visionary ideas and the boots-on-the-ground work of REGUA , which began when its founder , Nicholas Locke , decided to return his own farmland and pastures to forest .
“ Nature has a tempo throughout the year and it ’ s always producing . It ’ s working alongside us . It ’ s making its own raw materials ,” says Locke . “ The science blends into a type of art : collecting the seeds , taking them to the nursery , propagating the seedlings into life , and then restoring barren patches of land to get the forest growing again .”
His grassroots organization and WWF have achieved as much as they have by putting communities at the heart of the project . The very first step of this plan , says WWF ’ s Venturi , was to build engagement into restoration efforts : “ Restoration goes far beyond planting trees . People and organizations on the ground know that .”
Responsible restoration is a complex process of ecological balance and creating long-term environments for biodiversity and ecosystems . All the impacts , from water provision for locals to measuring carbon benefits , need to be aligned .
“ People need to see the results . If you don ’ t work for and with local people , if rural farms are not affected positively , they ’ re not going to take care ,” says Venturi . “ Collaboration is vital .”
Community collaboration Many people who live near the Atlantic Forest rely on it for their livelihoods , through subsistence agriculture or by selling timber , charcoal , or other forest-derived products . To be successful , restoration is not just about the longevity of plants and animals , but also uplifting local communities with jobs and sustainable agricultural
Local knowledge is paired with reference guides to identify seed species , above ; Nogueira takes a sample from a jacatirão tree , left .
practices . REGUA ’ s focus to create something that can thrive in the future , not just replace what ’ s been lost , is a result of identifying community engagement champions such as Nogueira and Oliveira and consistently investing in their expertise .
Some local farmers and hunters have struggled with the changes . Creating a dialogue has been an important part of Nogueira ’ s work , such as informing local hunters it ’ s illegal to hunt in the protected areas . At first he used to check traps and release animals . “ If I saw a hunter , I ’ d say , ‘ My friend , I ’ m sorry , but this is now a preservation area . You ’ ll have to excuse me , I come here to talk to you . It ’ s my job .’ When we find out about illegal hunting , we warn these people of the risks associated with it .”
The project also educates farmers about the interconnectedness of nature and economics — and how dependent they are on the ecosystem for success , especially water . “ We use the project to raise awareness of the local population , always trying to bring them in as part of the process ,” says Taruhim Quadros , conservation and restoration analyst at WWF-Brasil . “ We highlight that , by adopting sustainable practices , they may have more productive areas and the same amount of income they would get from ‘ business-as-usual ’ agriculture .” J
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